Adversity often brings out the best in the human condition.
For the last few weeks the world has watched examples of how the people of Fort McMurray have risen above the tragedy caused by a wildfire that has devastated their community.
The world has watched and been amazed by the courage and generosity of spirit that not only thousands upon thousands of people who have been displaced from their homes have shown, but of the small army of emergency officials who are continuing to battle the fire and save what is left of the community.
Then there are the countless stories of how individuals and community groups from all over the nation have come together to help the people impacted by this disaster.
It is also a sad fact of life that tragedy also brings out the worst of humanity.
One of the Leader’s editorial staff, who was involved with the area’s Emergency Operation Centre during the wildfires in the Okanagan in 2003, 2005 and 2009 recounts how criminals snuck into evacuated areas to loot and steal.
In other instances, as unbelievable as it sounds, where people infiltrated evacuation centres, stealing from people who already lost everything.
So far the reports from Fort McMurray have been pretty tame in comparison. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the fundraising effort. Already reports of false calls from charity groups and fake websites being set up in the name of helping the residents of Fort McMurray.
The Fort McMurray Fire Help Facebook page suggests that Canadians looking to help should avoid giving donations through GoFundMe and that many fake fundraising accounts have been created on social media. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests people be cautious about donating online, especially in response to unsolicited emails, text messages or social media posts. The BBB suggests people go directly to a charity’s websites, be careful when using recommendations for charities from bloggers or other websites, and be wary of claims that 100 per cent of donations will go towards relief efforts.
Check organizations’ websites to see if they have an on-the-ground presence in impacted areas. If not, it may be difficult for them to address the immediate needs of those affected by the crisis. See if the charity is providing direct aid or raising money for other organizations. Food and clothing drives may have good intentions, but may not necessarily be the quickest way to help, unless they have the adequate infrastructure in place to distribute the goods. That’s not to say you should be scared to donate, just do your homework before hand, or contribute to one of the many local groups, such as Freson Bros., Grizzly Trails, Barrhead Ford or any of the other many reputable groups who have done the legwork for you. The Red Cross is also reputable organization that is doing wonderful work in Fort McMurray and the federal government is matching individuals contributions.
